Jewish tradition has a powerful answer: God's mercy is inexhaustible. It’s a concept beautifully explored in Midrash Tehillim 67, a commentary on the Psalms.
The passage opens with a plea: "To conquer with melodies. May God have mercy on us and bless us." It's a striking image – conquering through song, through faith. But what does it really mean?
The midrash immediately anchors itself in scripture, quoting Lamentations 3:22: "The Lord's mercies are not consumed." This isn't just a nice sentiment. It's a fundamental truth. The Midrash Tehillim emphasizes that God’s mercy endures forever. It's not something that can be used up. Even when the world seems to conspire against us – when, as Psalm 47:5 says, nations plot to "destroy them from being a nation" – God’s mercy remains. It doesn't cease.
And it gets even better. Lamentations 3:23 continues, "They are new every morning." Each day is a fresh start, a renewed opportunity. Your slate is wiped clean. G-d’s faithfulness, the midrash tells us, is great to all the inhabitants of the world. – every single morning. A gift.
But what about the times of intense hardship? The text reflects on periods like the Babylonian exile. And then, later, when Moses saw the oppression of the kingdom of Greece, he prayed for deliverance. He prayed, as Deuteronomy 33:11 says, "Bless, Lord, his strength." And what form does this blessing take? We are told to bless with the words of Numbers 6:24, "The Lord bless you and keep you."
And that brings us back to our opening plea: "May God have mercy on us and bless us." If God does this – if He shows mercy and blessing – then, as Psalm 67:16 says, "You will make known Your strength among the nations, that Your way may be known upon earth, Your salvation among all nations."
This is a crucial point. According to the midrash, God doesn’t save Israel because they deserve it, but to make known His might and declare His Name. As Asaph says in Psalm 76:2, "In Judah is God known; His name is great in Israel." And Psalm 77:15 reminds us, "Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph."
He saves us for the sake of His Name, to demonstrate His power, so that the nations won't mistakenly believe they've prevailed through their own strength. The goal, ultimately, is that everyone will acknowledge Him. That all the people will praise Him, as Psalm 67:4 urges: "Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee."
This echoes the sentiment in Isaiah 35:1, "For as the earth bringeth forth her shoots," and Isaiah 43:21: "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." The very purpose of our existence is to declare God's praise.
So, the next time you feel depleted, remember the enduring message of Midrash Tehillim 67. God’s mercy is a constant, a source of renewal, and a testament to His unwavering faithfulness. And through that mercy, we are called to proclaim His greatness to the world. Can we find the melody within us to do so?